Pet travel bowl

ABSTRACT

In order to make it possible especially during travel for there to be water and/or food available for a pet such as a dog, a bowl has been provided which has a container portion with an open top surrounded by a skirt portion. The open top of the container portion is adapted to receive food or water therethrough with the skirt portion terminating in a ring-shaped lower edge at or below the lower most extent of the container portion in outwardly spaced relation thereto. With these features, the pet travel bowl also includes a lid for sealingly covering the open top of the container portion and a fastener for securing the bowl to a surface to prevent any movement of the bowl on the surface.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is generally directed to pet accessories and, moreparticularly, a bowl for making water and/or food available to a petespecially during travel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Generally speaking, it is well recognized by nearly everyone that watermust be made available to pets at all times. This is particularlydifficult, however, when travelling with pets since there has been nopractical manner of making water available on demand at such times. Andat one time or another, nearly all pet owners have been known to travelwith their pets particularly by automobile.

In the summer months, there are often extremes of heat and humidity thatcan prove dangerous and even deadly to a pet. This is particularly truewhere pets are left in an automobile in the hot sun where theconsequences can range from heat exhaustion and heat stroke to death inextreme cases. As a result, various municipalities and states haverequired by law that pets left unattended in vehicles have water orother liquid available at all times.

Of course, common sense dictates that water be made readily available toan animal at all times of the year. Unfortunately, it is typically thatcase that water is furnished in an open dish or bowl which is readilysubject to spillage and, in some cases, tip over in a moving automobileor other vehicle which has made this requirement difficult to meet. Aswill be appreciated, the spilled water can cause deterioration of carpetand rusting of metal in an automobile.

As will also be recognized, it is desirable in many instances to providefood for a pet during travel. The spillage problem is not quite as greatas with water, but, nonetheless, solid pet food and/or pet food withliquid gravy can spill in the environment of a moving automobile.Moreover, with water or food, it is possible in extreme cases for anopen bowl to be overturned by automobile movement.

In the automobile environment and elsewhere, there is still anadditional problem with bowls having an open top. This involves thepossible intrusion of dirt, insects or other contaminants into thecontents of the bowl whether it is used in an automobile, in the houseor backyard, or anywhere else. Of course, it will be appreciated thatsuch contaminants may prove detrimental to the health and well-being ofthe pet.

The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of theforegoing problems and achieving one or more of the resulting objects.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide awater and/or food bowl for travelling with a pet. It is a further objectof the present invention to provide a pet travel bowl for maintaining asupply of water and/or food for a pet at all times. It is an additionalobject of the present invention to provide a bowl that avoids anyspillage or contamination of the contents thereof.

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a pet travel bowlcomprising a container portion having an open top surrounded by a skirtportion. The open top of the container portion is adapted to receivefood or water therethrough with the skirt portion terminating in aringshaped lower edge at or below the lowermost extent of the containerportion in outwardly spaced relation thereto, and the bowl also includesmeans for sealingly covering the open top of the container portion. Inaddition, the pet travel bowl includes means for securing the bowl to asurface so as to prevent movement of the bowl relative to the surface.

In the exemplary embodiment, the container portion is generallyhemispherical and has a bottom surface lying in a plane closely adjacentthat of the lower edge of the skirt portion. It is also advantageous forthe skirt portion to slope generally outwardly and for the lower edge toinclude a radially outward projection for supporting the bowl on thesurface. In one form of the invention, the bowl is formed such that thelower edge of the skirt portion is integrally associated with a bottomwall to define an insulating chamber about the container portion.

Preferably, the means for sealingly covering the open top of thecontainer portion is a removable lid formed so as to have a living hingefor securing the lid to the bowl. Also, the securing means preferablyincludes a first hook and loop fastener portion o the bowl and a secondhook and loop portion on the surface for securing the bowl as desired.

In a highly preferred embodiment, the removable lid has a downwardlyfacing rim receiving recess which is generally square in cross-sectionto mate with an upwardly extending generally square shaped rim. The rimis preferably generally disposed about the open top of the containerportion. With this arrangement, the downwardly facing rim receivingrecess of the lid is adapted to releasably but sealingly engage theupwardly extending rim of the bowl substantially entirelycircumferentially thereabout.

Preferably, the first hook and loop fastener portion is adhesivelysecured to the bottom surface of the container portion and the secondhook and loop fastener portion is adhesively secured to the supportingsurface. When a bottom wall is utilized to define an insulating chamber,the first hook and loop fastener portion will be adhesively secured tothe bottom wall. With a bottom wall defining an insulating chamber aboutthe container portion, the chamber can advantageously be substantiallyentirely filled with a foam insulation material to enhance theinsulating properties.

In one embodiment, the open top of the container portion is defined by ainwardly and downwardly extending splash resistent flange having a firstflange portion extending inwardly of the hemispheric container portionand a second portion extending downwardly. Alternatively, the bowl mayinclude a circumferentially extending splash resistant flange integralwith the removable lid through the living hinge in which case the flangewill also have a downwardly facing rim receiving recess. With thisarrangement, the rim receiving recess of the splash resistant flange isadapted to be disposed between the upwardly extending rim of the bowland the rim receiving recess of the removable lid in a manner sealingthe contents of the container portion therewithin.

Preferably, a lifting tab is provided on the removable lid in alignmentwith a finger recess in the skirt portion when the removable lid issealingly covering the open top of the container portion. In oneembodiment, the living hinge may have a snap button on a free end to bereleasably secured within a button receiving recess in the skirt portiondirectly opposite the finger recess in the skirt portion.

Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention willbecome apparent from a consideration of the following specificationtaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of pet travel bowl inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the pet travel bowl as illustratedin FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the pet travel bowl taken on the line 3--3of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the pet travel bowl taken on the line4--4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the pet travel bowl taken on theline 5--5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a side-elevational view of a stack of pet travel bowls inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a partially broken side elevational view illustrating anotherembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a partially broken bottom plan view of the embodimentillustrated in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 10--10 of theembodiment illustrated in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of still another embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG.11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the illustrations given, and with reference first to FIG. 1, thereference numeral 20 designates generally a pet travel bowl inaccordance with the present invention. The pet travel bowl 20 includes acontainer portion 22 having an open top 22a surrounded by a skirtportion 24 (see, also, FIG. 5). The open top 22a of the containerportion 22 is adapted to receive food or water therethrough with theskirt portion 24 terminating in a ring-shaped lower edge 24a at or belowthe lower most extent 22b of the container portion 22 in outwardlyspaced relation thereto. The pet travel bowl 20 also includes means forsealingly covering the open top 22a of the container portion 22. Withthis arrangement, the pet travel bowl 20 is further includes means forsecuring the bowl to a surface to prevent the bowl from moving on andrelative to the surface.

As best shown in FIG. 5, the container portion 22 is generallyhemispherical and has a bottom surface as at 22b lying in a planeadjacent the plane of the lower edge 24a of the skirt portion 24. Theskirt portion 24 slopes generally outwardly and downwardly and, in thepreferred embodiment, includes a radially outward projection 24b forsupporting the bowl 20 on the surface. In the embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 7 and 8, the pet travel bowl 20' has a bottom wall 26 integrallyassociated with the lower edge 24a and the outward projection 24b todefine an insulating chamber as at 28.

Referring once again to FIGS. 1 through 5, the means for sealinglycovering the open top 22a of the container portion 22 is a removable lid30 having a living hinge 32 which serves to secure the removable lid 30to the pet travel bowl 20. Also as shown in FIGS. 1 through 5, themovement securing means includes a first hook and loop fastener portion34 on the pet travel bowl 20 and a second hook and loop fastener portion36 to be placed on the surface as described hereinafter.

As best shown in FIG. 5, the removable lid 30 has a downwardly facingrim receiving recess 38 and the pet travel bowl 20 has an upwardlyextending rim 40 both of which are generally square in cross-section.The continuous rim 40 is disposed generally about the open top 22a ofthe container portion 20. With this arrangement, the downwardly facingrim receiving recess 38 is adapted to releasably but sealingly engagethe upwardly extending rim 40 substantially entirely circumferentiallythereabout.

With either of the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6 and 7through 8, respectively, the first hook and loop fastener portion 34 or34' may be adhesively secured to the bowl 20 or 20' in a conventionalmanner. The first hook and loop fastener portion 34 may thus beadhesively secured to the bottom surface as at 22b of the containerportion 22 in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5 whereas the firsthook and loop fastener portion 34' may be adhesively secured to thebottom wall 26 as shown in FIG. 7 embodiment. In either of theembodiments as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 7, the second hook and loopfastener portion 36 or 36' may be adhesively secured to a supportingsurface in a position where it is desired to secure the bowl 20 or 20'against movement.

As will be appreciated, this provides a degree of flexibility bypermitting the user to secure the bowl to a surface as desired. Thus,whether the bowl is secured to the floor or seat of a vehicle, a floorin the house, or any other supporting surface, the second hook and loopfastener 36 or 36' can be separated from the first hook and loopfastener 34 or 34', a conventional "peel-off" adhesive protecting papercan be removed from the second hook and loop fastener 36 or 36', and thesecond hook and loop fastener 36 or 36' can be adhesively secured wheredesired. When this has been done, the bowl 20 or 20' may be releasablysecured to the surface in the desired location at any time thereafter.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8, the bowl 20' has already been describedas having a bottom wall 26 that cooperates with the lower edge 24a ' ofthe skirt portion 24' to define an insulating chamber 28. Thisinsulating chamber 28 will be understood to extend completely about thecontainer portion 22'. As will be appreciated, the insulating chamber 28can be substantially entirely filled with a foam insulation material 42to provide even better insulating characteristics for the contents inthe container portion 22' of the bowl 20'.

In both of the embodiments of pet bowl 20 and 20', a lifting tab 44 or44' is provided on the removable lid 30 or 30' in alignment with afinger recess 46 or 46' in the skirt portion 24 or 24' when theremovable lid 30 or 30' is sealingly covering the open top 22a or 22a 'of the container portion 22 or 22'. As also shown in FIGS. 1 through 5and 7 through 8 respectively, the living hinge 32 or 32' has a snap fitbutton 48 or 48' on a free end to be releasably secured within a buttonreceiving recess 50 or 50' in the skirt portion 24 or 24' directlyopposite the finger recess 46 or 46' in the skirt portion 24 or 24'.

With regard to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, anotherunique aspect of the present invention has been clearly illustrated. Itwill be appreciated that, due to the shape of the container and skirtportions 22 and 24, respectively, and the absence of a bottom wall suchas 26 in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, it is possible tonest the bowls 20 substantially as shown which may be advantageous forshipping and/or placing the bowls on storeroom shelves. As will beappreciated, the lids 30 from all but the top one of the bowls 20 can beremoved by reason of the cooperation of the snap fit buttons 48 with thebutton receiving recesses 50 to make this possible.

Referring now to FIGS. 9 and 10, still another embodiment of the presentinvention has been fully illustrated. The bowl 20" utilizes many of theunique attributes of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-5 as will beappreciated by like prime reference numerals which have been utilizedfor like components in the several views. This embodiment, however, alsoincludes an inwardly and downwardly extending splash resistant flangegenerally designated 52. The flange 52 will be seen to have a firstflange portion 52a extending generally inwardly of the generallyhemispherical container portion 22" and a second flange portion 52bextending generally downwardly. With this arrangement, water and/or foodsloshing in the container portion 22" will tend to be retainedtherewithin by the splash resistant flange 52.

As also shown in this embodiment, the upwardly extending rim 40" isdisposed substantially at the juncture between the first and secondflange portions 52a and 52b.

Finally, and referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, still another embodiment ofthe present invention has been full illustrated. The bowl 20"' includesa circumferentially extending splash resistant flange 54 which isintegral with the removable lid 30"' through the living hinge 32"' andhaving a downwardly facing rim receiving recess 56 adapted to bedisposed between the upwardly extending rim 40"' of the bowl 20"' andthe rim receiving recess 38"' of the removable lid 30"' With thisarrangement, the entire lid 30"' and flange 54 assembly can be removedand the bowl 20"' can be utilized in an entirely conventional fashion.

However, as will also be appreciated, the bowl 20"' can later beutilized for travel in a highly advantageous manner by simply placingthe splash resistant flange 54 onto the pet travel bowl 20"'. This isdone by simply matingly engaging the downwardly facing rim receivingrecess 56 with the rim 40"' and filling the container portion 22"' withfood or water. Once the pet travel bowl 20"' has been filled, the rimreceiving recess 38"' in the removable lid 30"' can be placed over therim receiving recess 56 of the splash resistant flange 54 to create aseal.

With all embodiments of the present invention, the pet travel bowlavoids spillage when a vehicle is in motion. It also avoids thepossibility of tipover, and the attached lid keeps dirt, insects and thelike from the contents thereof. When utilizing an insulated chamber thepet travel bowl further gives a cooling effect to water therewithin.

In some forms, the pet travel bowl is "stackable" to save space inshipping and retailing. It will also be clear that the bowl can be usedafter purchase so as to hold not only water or other liquids fordrinking purposes but also solid pet food or pet food having liquidgravy and the like. In all cases, spillage is avoided, tipover iseliminated, and contents are protected from contamination.

While in the foregoing there have been set forth preferred embodimentsof the invention, it will be appreciated that the details herein givenmay be varied by those skilled in the art without departing from thetrue spirit and scope of the appended claims.

We claim:
 1. A pet travel bowl, comprising:a container portion having an open top adapted to receive food or water therethrough, and means for sealingly covering said open top of said container portion, said cover means being a removable lid having a living hinge for securing said lid to said bowl; and means for securing said bowl to a surface to prevent movement of said bowl on said surface.
 2. The pet travel bowl of claim 1 wherein said container portion is surrounded by a skirt portion terminating in a ring-shaped lower edge at or below the lowermost extend of said container portion in outwardly spaced relation thereto.
 3. The pet travel bowl of claim 2 wherein said container portion is generally hemispherical and has a bottom surface lying in a plane closely adjacent the plane of said lower edge of said skirt portion.
 4. The pet travel bowl of claim 2 wherein said skirt portion slopes generally outwardly and downwardly and said lower edge includes a radially outward projection for supporting said bowl on said surface.
 5. The pet travel bowl of claim 2 wherein said skirt portion slopes generally outwardly and downwardly and said lower edge is integrally associated with a bottom wall to define an insulating chamber.
 6. The pet travel bowl of claim 2 wherein said movement securing means includes a first hook and loop fastener portion on said bowl and a second hook and loop fastener portion on said surface.
 7. A pet travel bowl, comprising:a container portion having an open top surrounded by a skirt portion, said open top of said container portion being adapted to receive food or water to be retained for a pet during travel, said skirt portion terminating in a ring-shaped lower edge at or below the lowermost extent of said container portion in outwardly spaced relation thereto, said skirt portion sloping generally outwardly and downwardly and said lower edge including a radially outward projection for supporting said bowl on said surface, and means for sealingly covering said open top of said container portion; said means for sealingly covering said open top of said container portion being a removable lid having a living hinge for securing said lid to said bowl; and means for securing said bowl to a supporting surface to prevent movement of said bowl on said surface including a first hook and loop fastener portion on said bowl and a second hook and loop fastener portion on said supporting surface.
 8. The pet travel bowl of claim 7 wherein said container portion is generally hemispherical and has a bottom surface lying in a plane closely adjacent the plane of said lower edge of said skirt portion, said first hook and loop fastener portion being adhesively secured to said bottom surface of said container portion and said second hook and loop fastener portion being adhesively secured to said supporting surface.
 9. The pet travel bowl of claim 7 wherein said radially outward projection of said lower edge of said container portion is integrally associated with a bottom wall to define an insulating chamber, said insulating chamber being substantially entirely filled with a foam insulation material and said first hook and loop fastener portion being adhesively secured to an outer surface of said bottom wall.
 10. The pet travel bowl of claim 7 wherein said container portion is generally hemispherical and said open top of said container portion is defined by an inwardly and downwardly extending splash resistant flange, said removable lid having a downwardly facing circumferential rim receiving recess and including an upwardly extending circumferential rim disposed about said open top of said container portion.
 11. The pet travel bowl of claim 7 wherein said removable lid has a downwardly facing rim receiving recess and including an upwardly extending rim disposed about said open top of said container portion, said downwardly facing rim receiving recess of said removable lid being adapted to releasably but sealingly engage said upwardly extending rim of said bowl substantially entirely circumferentially thereabout.
 12. The pet travel bowl of claim 11 including a circumferentially extending splash resistant flange integral with said removable lid through said living hinge and having a downwardly facing rim receiving recess, said rim receiving recess of said splash resistant flange being adapted to be disposed between said upwardly extending rim of said bowl and said rim receiving recess of said removable lid.
 13. A pet travel bowl, comprising:a container portion having an open top surrounded by a skirt portion, said open top of said container portion being adapted to receive food or water to be retained for a pet during travel, said skirt portion terminating in a ring-shaped lower edge at or below the lowermost extent of said container portion in outwardly spaced relation thereto, said skirt portion sloping generally outwardly and downwardly and said lower edge including a radially outward projection for supporting said bowl on said surface, and means for sealingly covering said open top of said container portion; said means for sealingly covering said open top of said container portion being a removable lid having a living hinge for securing said lid to said bowl and having a downwardly facing rim receiving recess, said rim receiving recess being generally square in cross-section and said bowl further including an upwardly extending generally square shaped rim disposed about said open top of said container portion, said downwardly facing rim receiving recess of said removable lid being adapted to releasably but sealingly engage said upwardly extending rim of said bowl substantially entirely circumferentially thereabout; means for securing said bowl to a supporting surface to prevent movement of said bowl on said surface including a first hook and loop fastener portion on said bowl and a second hook and loop fastener portion on said supporting surface.
 14. The pet travel bowl of claim 13 wherein said container portion is generally hemispherical and has a bottom surface lying in a plane closely adjacent the plane of said lower edge of said skirt portion, said first hook and loop fastener portion being adhesively secured to said bottom surface of said container portion and said second hook and loop fastener portion being adhesively secured to said supporting surface.
 15. The pet travel bowl of claim 13 wherein said radially outward projection of said lower edge of said container portion is integrally associated with a bottom wall to define an insulating chamber, said insulating chamber being substantially entirely filled with a foam insulation material and said first hook and loop fastener portion being adhesively secured to an outer surface of said bottom wall.
 16. The pet travel bowl of claim 13 wherein said container portion is generally hemispherical and said open top of said container portion is defined by a inwardly and downwardly extending splash resistant flange, said flange having a first flange portion extending generally inwardly of said generally hemispherical container portion and having a second portion extending generally downwardly.
 17. The pet travel bowl of claim 13 including a circumferentially extending splash resistant flange integral with said removable lid through said living hinge and having a downwardly facing rim receiving recess, said rim receiving recess of said splash resistant flange being adapted to be disposed between said upwardly extending rim of said bowl and said rim receiving recess of said removable lid.
 18. The pet travel bowl of claim 13 including a lifting tab on said removable lid in alignment with a finger recess in said skirt portion when said removable lid is sealingly covering said open top of said container portion, said living hinge having a snap fit button on a free end to be releasably secured within a button receiving recess in said skirt portion directly opposite said finger recess in said skirt portion. 